In August 2021, the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office alerted the US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) about potentially improper prescribing practices at Southern Rapid Care, particularly concerning testosterone. This led DEA agents to schedule a visit to the SRC facility on June 7, 2022, to examine records and audit the controlled substances kept on-site.

A lawsuit filed by the DEA against the healthcare providers last week revealed that the audit uncovered incomplete records. These records did not detail the date and quantity of controlled substances received, which hampered the DEA’s ability to fully assess SRC’s accountability for these substances.

Southern Rapid Care serves as the main healthcare provider for employees in Orange Beach. Interestingly, there has been a previous investigation into steroid distribution involving local civil servants. For instance, Thomas “Danny” Williams, a fitness trainer, was sentenced in 2015 after he admitted to importing steroids from China and Ukraine.

A report from Lagniappe Daily indicated that authorities were using Williams’ case to probe other officials in Orange Beach, including Mayor Tony Kennon.

Williams vanished during the anniversary weekend in 2022 after spending a year in federal prison; he was last seen on a boat trip. Authorities later discovered his body had washed ashore at Terry Cove on May 29. As of June 6, 2022, investigations were ongoing regarding this case, though no signs of foul play were reported.

The DEA’s lawsuit against SRC outlines five federal violations, including failures to maintain individual records, document the amount and date of receipts, and manage biennial inventories. It also pointed out deficiencies in maintaining complete and accurate records regarding the distribution and disposal of controlled substances.

The DEA is seeking joint civil penalties against Paul Grison, Sheila Stevens, Elizabeth Micon, and Julie Murphy, amounting to $19,246 for each violation of the Controlled Substances Act.

Alongside testosterone, investigators noted incomplete records for other medications, including Clonazepam, Diazepam, Phentermine, and Zolpidem. The issues with record-keeping include shortages in drug strength, dosage form, and the inventory status of these substances.

During the DEA’s inspection, Mary Christigernigan, the Director of Patient Care Services at SRC, informed them that they provided controlled substances, such as testosterone and others, specifically for Orange Beach employees.